Les Bowen

STAFF WRITER

Les Bowen has covered the Eagles since 2002. Before that, he covered the Flyers for 13 years. He came to the Daily News from the Charlotte Observer in May 1983, just as the Sixers were winning the NBA championship. He thought, "Gosh, this sort of thing must happen all the time here."

The Leonard Weaver deal is finally done -- agent Harold Lewis told your Eagletarian the Eagles have made Weaver the NFL's highest-paid fullback, at $11 million over three years plus incentives. Lewis said $6.5 million is guaranteed. The agreement in principle was first reported by ESPN's John Clayton.

"It's great," Lewis said. "My hat goes off to the Eagles for recognizing the kind of asset Leonard is, on and off the field."

Incentives could earn Weaver another $700,000. Weaver, a restricted free agent coming off a Pro Bowl season, was tendered Thursday at the second-round level, an action that now becomes moot. The agreement apparently was reached Thursday night, but technical reasons pertaining to the start of the new league year today delayed finalizing it. Weaver was the only Eagles restricted free agent who seemed likely to garner interest from other teams.

Poll

Was re-signing Weaver a good move by the Eagles?

Yes

No

No word on Eagles free agent visits yet. You've probably heard the speculation linking them to Julius Peppers, if the free agent defensive end does not end up signing in Chicago, where he is now visiting. Chicago, which doesn't have a first- or second-round pick in the upcoming draft, really needs Peppers. Can't see why they'd court him so hard and then quibble over the bucks. And I think if the Eagles really, really wanted him, they would have taken the plunge right away, instead of waiting for somebody else to make a pitch.